Weather Forecast

Packers lose linebacker Erik Walden to free agency

The Green Bay Packers lost linebacker Erik Walden to Indianapolis in the first day of free agency. He signed a four-year contract worth a reported $16 million. Walden said the Packers never made an effort to re-sign him.

Meanwhile, Fox Sports says the Packers are making a new effort to keep free agent receiver Greg Jennings, and he could end up choosing between Green Bay and Minnesota. On ESPN Tuesday, the 30-year-old Jennings said he had some teams in mind but would not reveal them.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Jennings misjudged the type of money he could get elsewhere. Now he's open to returning to Green Bay. The paper also said the Packers will have to evaluate Jennings' value on the open market before their negotiations can get serious.

Meanwhile, the Colts say Walden will start opposite linebacker Robert Mathis in a 3-4 scheme. The 27-year-old Walden played with Dallas, Kansas City and Miami before he had a breakout year with the Packers in their 2010 Super Bowl season.

Last year, he filled in after outside linebacker Nick Perry went out for the season with a knee injury. He ended up playing 70-percent of the team's defensive snaps, with 26.5 quarterback pressures.

Canty chooses Ravens

The Packers lost a chance to beef up their defensive line when free agent Chris Canty signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Canty visited the Packers last week after the New York Giants cut him.

Media reports said Green Bay never gave Canty an offer because they were concerned about a previous knee injury. He passed a physical at Baltimore. The Ravens gave him a three-year deal worth $8 million.

Also, ESPN says the Packers will bring in free agent running back Peyton Hillis from Kansas City for an audition. Hillis ran for 309 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs last year.